146 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 March, 1916. 



It is also evident that in applying mass selection to wheat for an 

 improvement in yield, improvement would more rapidly follow if the 

 upper and lower portions of the selected ears were rejected, and the 

 balance of the ear threshed and graded to eliminate the less prolific 

 median grains. 



We wish to express our appreciation of the hearty co-operation of 

 Field Officers G. S. Gordon, H. A. Mullett, and T. M. Whelan, who 

 have assisted in the arduous work entailed in the preparation, planting, 

 and harvesting of the centgener plots. 



Summary. 



1. The weight of the individual grains may be described as following 

 the shape of the ear, the grains increasing in weight from either extremity 

 to the middle of the ear. 



2. The median kernels of the spikelets are invariably lesser in weight 

 and impoverished, and if they germinate they produce less prolific 

 plants. 



3. As these grains are undersized and low in weight an efficient 

 grading machine will eliminate them. 



4. These results justify th© practice, often recommended, of rejecting 

 the ujDper and lower portions of the ears and grading the remainder 

 when applying mass selection to wheat for an improvement in yield. 



{To he continiied.) 



FARM BREVITIES. 



The best advice for the man engaged in mixed farming is to keep 

 on mixing. Do not let a rush of wheat push everything else out of the 

 way. 



France is the only country in Europe that is self-supporting in 

 normal times. The country produces sufficient corn and meat for the 

 whole population. 



German starch factories, making starch from potatoes, represent a 

 thriving industry. The turnover of the co-operative starch factories be- 

 fore the war was about £3,500,000 a year. 



A middle white sow belonging to Mr. E. Kemp Toogood, Southamp- 

 ton (England), has given birth to twenty-two live pigs at a farrow. The 

 same animal in 1913 produced twenty-one young at a birth. 



It pays to let all farm animals have access to powdered charcoal. 

 They will usually eat it freely. Most of the so-called stock foods contain 

 charcoal as one of the most useful ingredients. 



Cowsheds should be kept in a condition of great cleanliness, and even 

 the air that the animals breathe should be pure. These two conditions 

 are indispensable for the production of sound, good milk. 



The light of a lamp will be much clearer if a small lump of salt is 

 placed in the bottom of the lamp reservoir. Also before screwing in the 

 burner, soak the wick in vinegar, then thoroughly dry before using. 

 This makes it burn brighter and last longer. 



